Lobivia longispina (Echinopsis longispina) Photo by: Valentino VallicelliThis is a fiercely spined and quite variable species with spectacular flowers of almost any colour: red, pink, yellow, bicoloured or white.

Origin and Habitat: NW Argentina ( Salta y Jujuy, at about 2000 m), Western Bolivia (departement of Oruro. Chuquisca: N Camargo, at about 3000 m) NE Chile: Región I: Altiplano of Tarapacá Province of Iquique 3.700 y 4.000 m.Habitat: : Growing from fissures in the rocks and on gravely outcrop mainly on volcanic substrates but also in other stone formation from 1800 to 4000 m of altitude, mostly on N, NE and E faced slopes with 10 to 30% of inclination in open areas or under scrubs.

Description: Very large and spiny cactus, solitary or branched. The body is almost concealed by the spines.Stem: Bluish-green, spherical at first and later sort cylindrical, and may grow 25 cm tall and 10-40 cm in diameter.Ribs: 25 to 50 ribs deeply incised between the tubercles, which are approx. 2 cm long.Spines: Radials are hard to tell from the central spines. Each areole bears approx 4 to 15 spines ranging from slender to thick, conical with a wider base, and irregular in length, the longest up to 8 cm or more. They are flexible and slightly curved upward to almost straight. Their colour varies from yellowish to brown when young but later grey.Flowers: Lateral or basal, 7-10 cm. long, funnel-shaped, and have a slender, curved tube covered with long white hairs. Perianth segments are short usually creamy-white but can be of almost any colour.Fruit: Globular, dark green with flowers remnants.Remarks: The fruit has a whitish mucilaginous pulp and is edible with a fresh and agreeable taste

Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Echinopsis ferox group

Echinopsis ferox(Britton & Rose) Backeb.: Very large and spiny cactus, solitary or branched. The body is almost concealed by the spines. It is a very variable species especially in shape and and length of spines and in flowers colour. Spines occasionally up to 20 cm long.

Echinopsis longispina(Britton & Rose) Werderm.: variable with almost straight spines up to 8 cm long, the flowers usually are cremy-white but may be almost any colour: red, pink, yellow, bi-coloured.

The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present. Read More...

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a summer grower species that offers no cultivation difficulties. Water regularly in summer (but do not overwater ) needs good drainage and very porous, keep rather dry in winter. Feed with a high potassium fertilizer in summer. It is quite frost resistant if kept dry (hardy to -12° C) Need a very bright exposure, full sun is indispensable to keep plant compact with strong spines.Propagation: Direct sow after last frost, offsets (if available)